GENERAL DENTISTRY

Preventive care  In many ways this is the most important care we provide. The best way to treat dental problems is to prevent them from happening. As you would expect, preventive care includes regular professional cleaning along with good home care and a healthy diet. But it also means a focus on education, early detection and, when necessary, quick intervention to avoid minor issues from becoming major ones. Our preventative services include screening for oral cancer. For more information on oral cancer screening, visit The Oral Cancer Foundation(OCF) website at www.oralcancer.org.

Periodontal therapy  Healthy gums, including the soft tissue and bone that surrounds your teeth, is one of the most important elements of dental health. Our highly skilled and gentle dental hygienists are passionate about their profession. Their non-surgical approach is aimed at preventing gum disease and helping you maintain your teeth for a lifetime. They consult closely with the doctors to determine if further care is needed.

Occlusion & TMD  Occlusion refers to the position of the teeth when the jaws are closed. In other words, how the teeth meet when you bite together. Even though occlusion is one of the three most fundamental elements of total dental health, it is often misunderstood, ignored or mistreated.

One of the many problems associated with a dysfunctional occlusion (bite) is TMD- temporo-mandibular dysfunction (sometimes incorrectly known as TMJ.) Signs and symptoms can include worn, broken or loose teeth, sensitive teeth, headaches and joint pain.

We include an occlusal screening in our routine examination. However, when symptoms dictate, we will suggest an in-depth analysis of the occlusal system. This is a very important part of preventive dentistry and will help to avoid the destructive consequences of failure to treat.

Tooth-colored fillings  Unsightly metal fillings can expand over time, contain mercury, and can cause teeth to break. We work with durable porcelain and ceramic composites that, once in place, are indistinguishable from the surrounding tooth. And, since these mercury-free composites bond to the tooth, they help to strengthen it.

Dental crowns  A crown is a tooth-shaped covering for a tooth that is badly damaged or decayed. Crowns can give support to a weak tooth, help support a bridge, or cover up a badly chipped or cracked tooth, restoring that tooth to its proper form and function. Crowns can be made of ceramic (porcelain) material, ceramic with a high noble metal substructure, or full or partial gold.

Root canals  Left untreated, sometimes decay may progress into the pulp of a tooth. A root canal procedure – the cleaning, prepping and sealing of the tooth’s root system – can usually be accomplished in one appointment and enable long-term retention of the tooth.